By Staff

            BENNINGTON – The Canton/Galva softball team traveled to Bennington on Tuesday to open their 2023 season and returned home with a split in the doubleheader as the Lady Eagles lost game one 2-5 before winning the nightcap 10-8.

            In game one, neither team scored until the fourth inning when the Lady Eagles put one run on the board before Bennington put three up. After Bennington added a pair of runs in the fifth, Canton/Galva could only squeeze across one more run in taking the 5-2 loss.

            Both Emerson Hoppes and Brooke Stephan had a pair of hits to lead the lady Eagle offense while Brecken Pearson stole three of the teams six stolen bases.

            Pearson pitched the first five innings and took the loss with Jordan Friesen throwing the final inning in relief.

            In game two, the Lady Eagles pushed across seven runs in the first two innings to take a commanding 7-1 lead before Bennington added three in the third and one in the fourth to pull within two runs at 7-5. Canton/Galva put up two more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth while Bennington added three more runs giving the Lady Eagles the final 10-8 victory.

            Freshman Emerson Hoppes continued having a huge debut for the Lady Eagle varsity as she recorded three more hits in the second game giving her five on the day, while also scoring twice and stealing three bases.

            Chipping in with a pair of hits were Cora Schamp, Brecken Pearson, Jayden Orth, and Jordan Friesen. Schamp, Orth, Friesen and Julia Allen each got credit for a pair of runs batted in while Schamp and Allen also each pounded out a double and Pearson hit for a triple.

            While Pearson began the game on the mound for the Lady Eagles, Jordan Friesen earned the win after throwing the final five innings, giving up eight hits, six earned runs, walking four and striking out nine on 106 pitches.

            Next up for the Lady Eagles will be on Friday, March 31 when they play host to Sedgwick.

CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLES at Bennington

GAME 1:

LADY EAGLES > 0-0-0-1-0-0-1 = 2-6-1;  Bennington > 0-0-0-3-2-0-X = 5-6-n/a.

LADY EAGLES BATTING (ab-r-h-rbi-bb): Raegen Hawkinson > 3-0-0-0-0; Adi Alcala > 4-0-0-0-0; Cora Schamp > 2-0-0-0-1; Emerson Hoppes > 4-0-2-0-0; Brooke Stephan > 3-1-2-0-0; Lili Espinoza > 1-0-0-0-2; Brecken Pearson > 1-1-0-0-3; Julia Allen > 4-0-1-0-0; Jayden Orth > 3-0-1-1-1; Jordan Friesen > 1-0-0-0-1.  Team Totals > 25-2-6-1-8.  SB (6) > Pearson – 3; Orth, Stephan, Karley Pennington – 1. LOB > 10.

LADY EAGLES PITCHING (ip-p-h-r-er-bb-so): Brecken Pearson > 5.0-77-6-5-5-4-1; Jordan Friesen > 1.0-21-0-0-0-2-1.  Team Totals > 6.0-98-6-5-5-6-2.

GAME 2:

LADY EAGLES > 1-6-0-0-2-1-0 = 10-13-0;  Bennington > 1-0-3-1-1-2-0 = 8-12-n/a.

LADY EAGLES BATTING (ab-r-h-rbi-bb): Karley Pennington > 4-0-0-0-0; Adi Alcala > 3-1-0-0-2; Cora Schamp > 4-0-2-2-1; Emerson Hoppes > 4-2-3-0-1; Brooke Stephan > 0-1-0-0-0; Lili Espinoza > 3-2-1-0-1; Brecken Pearson > 4-2-2-0-1; Julia Allen > 3-1-1-2-1; Jayden Orth > 4-1-2-2-0; Jordan Friesen > 4-0-2-2-0.  Team Totals > 33-10-13-8-5.  2B (2) > Schamp, Allen – 1. 3B (1) > Pearson – 1. SB (10) > Em. Hoppes > 3; Pearson, Orth – 2; Alcala, Espinoza, Friesen – 1. LOB > 7.

LADY EAGLES PITCHING (ip-p-h-r-er-bb-so): Pearson > 2.0-34-4-2-2-0-3; Friesen > 5.0-106-8-6-6-4-9.  Team Totals > 7.0-140-12-8-8-4-12.

(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)